The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-26
REPLYING TO COL. STOKES
MR.. l.. G. DULANEY TELLS OF THE
FACTION FIGHT IN BOLIVAR.
Mar. @. p. Melchior Says He Will be
Heard from Later-Light on the Great
Question: Who Was Entitled to DEM
cratic Suffrage9

$"SS'ioh' WIN was EuIlLIeu w DSih-
cratic Suffragep
To the Editor Of the Appeal.
Sir-Since the election is over, the AP-
PEAL OF November IA, containing an "open
letter from j. 4. Stokes to Geo. p. Mel
CHOIR" has come TO my hands. Strange to
say, the letter is dated October p, 1887.
1t is pertinent inquiry to ask why it was
not published before the election, which
was held on the Sth day of November.
Did Col Stokes wait TO see which way the
seat would jump" before he published it?
But with that l have nothing TO do, nor
have | anything to do with the quarrel or
question between Col. Stokes and George
=. Melchior. But there is one thing in the
letter with which land the other Democrats
Of this county have something 10 do, and
which | propose 10 refer to. 1t is this
Col. Stokes says; Judged by all the po-
litical tests OF which have any knowledge,
| regard George V Scott Us the Demo-
cratic nominee for sheriff in this
county, and intend to vote for
him. In this / am sustained
by the highest political authority
in the State-the State board" Now,
Mr.. Editor, your paper being, while it is
published in Tennessee, almost, and de-
seryedly from its influence in Mississippi
politics and its circulation in Mississippi, a
Mississippi paper, besides being an indie
pendent paper, l desire TO ask,
through it, what political test lac
refers 10 besides the action OF
the State board? Was IL when in his own
district, the Second, OF this county, at the
primary meeting of the Democratic party
to send delegates 10 the county cOnvcn-
ton, where iUJ white men and Democrats
voted upon his own motion that the chair
man appoint the delegates instructed 10
vote for Jas. II. Stafford Tor sheriff and l0l
voted for the motion, he was not up.
| pointed, when on that day he was an
Mowcd Stafford man? This must be all
| the political tests, except the action OF the
State board, OF which lac had any knowl.
/ edge, Tor the primaries were all held on
| the 18th OF September and the convention
| on the 2Sth aud on the night OF
the 10Th, rs is well known, the
! telephone wires were cut from
one end OF the county e
the other, and rs he was not in Rose
| dale when the conventions met. II is i'm
possible lac could have known whether Mr.
! scott or MIR. Stafford was the Democrat,
! nominee Tor sheriff That dispOses of all
! the political tests known 10 Col. Stokes, cX
! cept the action OF the state board.
! There were nj the county convention
! delegations from each district in the coun
/ ~. each claiming TO bc the representative,
OF the Democratic party IN It's district
| Col. Stokes was not there. The result wa,
! two conventions. Each made its nom
! nations, and both sent delegations e
! jackson. The State board, composed o.
! Gov Lowry, Licutcnant-GoycrnOr shank,
! and Secretary OF State Geo. NJ. GOvan, mel
! On October to hear both sides rs To the
! appointment OF election commissioners
! Strange to say the Stafford men were me-
wi;h q letter 80 tho Governor from Col
| stokes, stating that the Scott men repre
scntcd the Democratic party in the county
! This letter was written September 20, nnC
| ii said that the election commission recon
mcndcd by them ought TO be appointed
| A copy Of this letter was asked for, but 10
fused. The State board appointed tn,
men recommended by the scott conyen
ton.
Nothing was then left 10 the Stafford
men except 10 return home and make TN,
best fight they could. They guaranteed |
! free vote and fair count, and this wa
had. There were four tickets In the field
! the Democratic, with Jos. II. Stafford FOL
| sheriff. the Republican, with Geo. l.. Mel
choir TOT sheriff. fusion ticket, with Geo
Y. Scott for sheriff, and Republican
ticket with Geo. y. Scott for sheriff. Thu
last ticket was chiefly voted and wa
elected, aud beyond doubt fairly elected
rs iar us votes are concerned.
Now, ! say, ~ far as political tests arr
concerned, they show, Notwithstanding thu
action of the State board, that Joseph III
Stafford was the Democratic nominee, an,
not Mr.. Scott, for whom the Stokes mel
worked and voted while PROCESSING 10 b,
| Stafford men. The election Is over, an,
We admit Mr.. SCOTS election, but We ar
not willing 10 he stigmntizcd ~ bolicn
from the Democratic party, as the impress
sion would he from Col. Stokes open LET
ter. man oi his wealth, of his chamc
Ter and STAINING, who could not secure ~
APP oil itmcnt ~ % delegate 10 the conycn
ton, when the large majority WIS on hi
side, from his own district, Is hardly wortl
| notice; but II l. for these reasons. and be
cause. abruad, his words may have weight
that ths Is written.
was stafford man, believing him {,
be- the choice oi the Democratic party io
sheriff | have mo- quarrel with the met
who thought, ~ many no doubt honestl,
dit. that Mr. Scott was. But | have, "a
al true men must have, q supreme con
tempt for men Who were neither fish no
iovr' In the fight We had, and who waitc'
until the last moment 10 see which VA
they would gp, and gave az a BLACK eye
Ut that last moment, ~ Col. Stokes did
Your truly, l.. {. DELANEY.
NR. NEtCniuE ao col. STOKES.
To 1nmrs r. Stokes.
Your open letter 10 me, printed In IN
ArrEtL of the lith inst, In which you al
tempt 81 justify yourself for tmnsccndin
the bounds uf common dCccncy, shall hay
my attention IN the near future.
GEo T.. MTtcmioR.
Eagle Nest, Miss, November -.
PRESIDENT gREvY STUBBORN.